Interstitial growth of cartilage primarily involves the growth occurring from within the cartilage itself. This process is characterized by the division of chondrocytes (cartilage cells) within the cartilage matrix, leading to an increase in the mass of cartilage.
Out of the options provided:
- a) Growth occurs in the lining of the long bones: This statement is inaccurate since interstitial growth specifically refers to cartilage formation rather than the bone lining response.
- b) Fibroblasts give rise to chondrocytes that differentiate and form cartilage: This is closer to what happens; however, it oversimplifies interstitial growth, which more directly relates to chondrocytes themselves rather than fibroblasts.
- c) Unspecialized cells from mesenchyme: This option is somewhat related as mesenchymal cells can differentiate into chondrocytes, but it does not explicitly describe interstitial growth.
Ultimately, none of the statements perfectly capture the essence of interstitial growth, but option b is the most relevant to the process, acknowledging the role of cells in cartilage formation.